Collin Benjamin | |
Birth Date: | 1978 8, df=yes |
Birth Place: | Windhoek, South West Africa |
Height: | 1.82m[1] |
Currentclub: | Namibia (head coach) |
Position: | Defender |
Years1: | 1996–1999 |
Clubs1: | Civics Windhoek |
Years2: | 1999 |
Clubs2: | TuS Germania Schnelsen |
Caps2: | 9 |
Goals2: | 3 |
Years3: | 2000 |
Clubs3: | FC Elmshorn 1920 |
Caps3: | 28 |
Goals3: | 4 |
Years4: | 2001–2011 |
Clubs4: | Hamburger SV |
Caps4: | 146 |
Goals4: | 13 |
Years5: | 2011–2012 |
Clubs5: | 1860 Munich |
Caps5: | 18 |
Goals5: | 0 |
Nationalyears1: | 1999–2012 |
Nationalteam1: | Namibia |
Nationalcaps1: | 32 |
Nationalgoals1: | 2 |
Manageryears1: | 2018–2021 |
Managerclubs1: | Namibia (assistant) |
Manageryears2: | 2022– |
Managerclubs2: | Namibia |
Collin Benjamin (born 3 August 1978) is a Namibian professional football coach and a former player who played as a midfielder. He is the head coach of the Namibia national football team. He spent most of his professional career with Hamburger SV while representing Namibia at international level.[2]
Benjamin represented Namibia at the 2008 African Cup of Nations, earning 32 caps; he captained the team for several years. Benjamin was known for his speed and was mainly used for wing play as a defender.
He was named as the head coach of the Namibia national team in June 2022, succeeding Bobby Samaria.[3] Web site: Shina Oludare. Collin Benjamin: Ex- Hamburger SV defender named as new Namibia coach . Goal.com . 15 June 2022 . 2 January 2024.
After his 10 years at Hamburg Benjamin ended his playing career in Germany at 1860 Munich, where he then spent time in the club's coaching set-up.
Benjamin, who won 41 caps for Namibia and captained his country, said he was up to the "daunting" challenge of coaching the Brave Warriors - but would require "resources to accomplish the task ahead" of him.
Namibia began their 2023 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying campaign with a 1–1 draw against Burundi in neutral Johannesburg earlier in June 2022.
In 2024, Benjamin led Namibia Brave warriors to its first victory record and reaching round of 16 after 26 years in the AFCON 2023 Cup of Nation in the Ivory Coast.[4]
Aside from representing Hamburg and 1860 Munich during his active days, Benjamin remains the only Namibian to play in the Uefa Champions League.
As of 7 July 2024
Note: win or lose by penalty shoot-out is counted as the draw in time.